No one’s disputing that the unprecedented demand for the iPhone 4 would have tested the limits of even the most thoroughly tested and fail-proof preorder system…. but even giving AT&T the most generous benefit of that doubt, yesterday was an utter debacle for them in almost every way: not only did their pre-order system fail in almost every way imaginable, but in the process, they yet again exposed their customers’ private data.
When iPhone 4 pre-orders went live yesterday, a huge volume of customers discovered it was virtually impossible to order one online directly from AT&T, with many realizing the best way to get an iPhone 4 was to order it for in-store pick-up at an Apple store.
According to a source speaking PC World, the demand put on AT&T’s servers had less to do with the sheer volume of demand than the fact that AT&T didn’t even test their ordering system before the launch.
Perhaps that failure to test the system thoroughly explains AT&T’s other major SNAFU yesterday: dozens of AT&T customers reported that logging into pre-order the iPhone 4 would often log them into other people’s accounts, exposing these users’ personal details, including credit card information and personal address.
The end result? An untold number of users may have ended up ordering an iPhone 4 that will be delivered and paid for by another customer.
I don’t even know what to say here. You know, I’d welcome a single week where I didn’t have to write another “AT&T Sucks” post, but between years of bad service, stinginess in upgrading their networks, killing unlimited data a mere two months after the iPad’s debut, and having the security researchers who brought to their attention dangerous vulnerabilities on their network raided by the Feds, AT&T is the telecom equivalent of British Petroleum. This company could bone up the roll-out of the piece of string between two rusty tin cans; why is Apple still partner to these inept, evil morons?
